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Ezekiel comes to us as a stranger from a distant time and land. Who is this priest who, on his thirtieth birthday, has a dazzling vision of God on a wheeled throne? Who is this odd prophet who engages in outlandish street theater and speaks for God on international affairs? Who is this seer who paints murals of apocalyptic doom and then of a restored temple bursting with emblems of paradise? Are we bound to take this literally, reading prophet and newspaper side by side? Or is there a better way?Christopher Wright is a proven interpreter and communicator of the Old Testament, and in this commentary he masterfully opens our eyes to see and understand the message of Ezekiel. Ezekiel's vision of the glory of God--its departure and return--is first set within Israel's history and then in the culmination of God's promises in Christ. Embedded in the pattern of the strange, the bizarre and the wonderful is a word that still speaks to God's people today.

General preface

9

(2)

Author's preface

11

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Chief abbreviations

14

(1)

Select bibliography

15

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Introduction

17

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Ezekiel and his times

17

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Ezekiel and his mission

21

(18)

Ezekiel and his book

39

(4)

Wheels within wheels: Ezekiel's call vision (1:1 -- 3:15)

43

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Introduction: Who, when and where? (1:1--3)

43

(2)

The vision of God's glory (1:4--28)

45

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The reality of God's presence

51

(3)

The hardness of God's people (2:1--17; 3:4--7)

54

(3)

The mission of God's prophet (2:8 -- 3:3; 3:8--11)

57

(7)

Conclusion: Back home (3:12--15)

62

(2)

Theatre of the doomed: Ezekiel's first year in ministry (3:16 -- 5:17)

64

(33)

The actor (3:16--27)

64

(10)

The drama (4:1 -- 5:4)

74

(11)

The message (5:5--17)

85

(12)

Appendix 1: Notes on Ezekiel 6, 7 and 12

94

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Exit the glory (8:1 -- 11:25)

97

(30)

Introduction

97

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The glory of God offended (8:5--18)

99

(12)

The glory of God defended (9:1--11)

111

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The glory of God suspended (10:1--22; 11:1--23)

119

(8)

Conclusion

125

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History with attitude (16:1--63; 23:1--49; 20:1--49)

127

(45)

Introduction

127

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Jerusalem: My Fair Lady (16:1--43)

129

(16)

Cinderella and the two ugly sisters (in reverse) (16:44--63; 23:1--49)

145

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Israel - the video: rewind and fast-forward (20:1--44)

156

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Conclusion

166

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Appendix 2: Notes on Ezekiel 15, 17 and 19

169

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Who then can be saved? (14:12--23; 18:1--32; 33:10--20)

172

(39)

Introduction

172

(1)

Only the righteous will be saved (14:12--23)

173

(8)

Only the wicked need die (18:1--29; 33:12--20)

181

(15)

Only repentance makes the difference (18:21--32; 33:10--20)

196

(15)

The turning-point (24:1--27; 33:1--33)

211

(18)

Introduction

211

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The end of the old world (24:1--27)

212

(7)

The beginning of a new world (33:1--33)

219

(8)

A preview of Ezekiel's new message

227

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`Then the nations will know that I am the LORD' (25:1 - 32:32)

229

(44)

Introduction

229

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Against aggression and revenge: Judah's four nearest neighbours (25:1--17)

233

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Against economic arrogance: Tyre and Sidon (26:1 -- 28:19)

238

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Against imperial delusions: Egypt (29:1 -- 32:32)

246

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God and the nations: the message

255

(18)

The gospel accoring to Ezekiel (34:1 -- 37:28)

273

(42)

Introduction

273

(1)

From tyranny to theocracy (34:1--31)

274

(9)

From abandonment to abundance (35:1 -- 36:15)

283

(4)

From profanity to purity (36:16--38)

287

(16)

From rigor mortis to resurrection (37:1--14)

303

(8)

From enmity to unity (37:15--28)

311

(4)

The glory of God revealed to the world and restored to his people (38:1 -- 48:35)

315

Introduction

315

The defeat of Gog and the universal acknowledgment of yahweh (38:1 -- 39:29)